What is Wavefront Treatment?

Also known as Custom LASIK or Custom Wavefront LASIK, Wavefront guided treatment replaces 'the one treatment fits all' with a procedure that is tailored to the precise optics of the eye. Whilst standard laser eye treatment (without Wavefront guidance) gives very high quality results for the majority of patients, many peoples' eyes are not 'standard'.

Everybody who comes to Optimax has their eyes measured, not just for prescription strength, but to assess their optical performance in terms of quality of vision when the prescription is in place.

Wavefront video

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Glasses lenses are standard shapes and their optical performance is made to fit the average population as a whole, whilst the laser improves individual physical and optical characteristics precisely for each eye. Patients who are suitable for Wavefront treatment can achieve better results than wearing glasses or contact lenses can.

Wavefront and Night Time Vision

Wavefront is a big advantage to those with large pupils and poor night time vision. The optical performance of the eye is measured at each and every place on the cornea, including the part which is used when the pupil is large. Laser treatment is then programmed to each tiny part of the corneal surface so that every area of the cornea gets the optimised dosage. Contrast sensitivity in low lighting levels is increased and the risk of developing night time halos and glare is greatly decreased.

Wavefront Treatment Results

About half of patients should benefit significantly with sharper vision from Wavefront treatment. Our experienced doctors will cover this in detail during the consultation.

Our published statistics are based on 7,000 standard treatments during 2004 and 2005. These will see substantial improvement when Wavefront becomes the norm for suitable patients, both in the number who achieve 20:20 without glasses and safety as measured by change in visual sharpness.

Equipment and Treatment

We use one of the most advanced diagnostic machine available in the marketplace - the Nidek OPD (Optical Path Difference) device.

The Nidek OPD measures the progress of 8,000 waves of light as they pass through different parts of the eye and is amongst the best available technology in its field.

When the light rays are reflected back from the eye into the Nidek OPD, it digitally analyses the differences in the wave paths to what they should be for perfect sight.

These 8,000 data points are used to program the laser to correct each part of the eye (corneal surface). The aim is to shape each tiny section of the cornea to the correct focusing power, resulting in the sum total of the cornea focusing to be perfect and to be as near distortion free as is possible (click image to enlarge).

Iris recognition

The Nidek OPD is very precise in locking onto the eye to be able to digitally map tiny sections of the cornea and then instruct the laser to target the same area to remove any tiny imperfections. In this way the laser is accurately given instructions to laser the intended area on the cornea.

High Speed Tracking

Optimax uses the fastest tracker of any make of laser used in eye treatment. During treatment the tracker on the laser videos the image of the iris 200 times per second (200 htz) and matches it to the data it is given from the Nidek OPD. If you move your eye during treatment the laser follows it precisely.

Tissue Sparing

A benefit of Wavefront is that only precise amounts of tissue are removed from the parts of the cornea that need it. By getting treatment dosage closer to the actual need of each part of the cornea, less tissue is removed. This improves long term safety by maintaining the maximum structural strength of the eye following treatment.

Optimised and Customised Wavefront (OATZ/CATZ)

OATZ (Optimised Aspheric Treatment Zone - Aspheric) means 'not spherical/round'. Optimised Wavefront is for those with normal corneal surfaces but whose general shape of the eye is not optically round enough for perfect focusing.

CATZ means Customised Aspheric Treatment Zone. Customised Wavefront is used for patients whose eyes have undulations on the corneal surface that require individual removal and who will benefit from Aspheric Treatment.

All other Wavefront treatment details are the same as for LASIK and LASEK laser eye surgery.

IntraLase®Femtosecond Laser

This new all-laser IntraLase®Femtosecond Laser is the gold standard, state of the art laser eye surgery, giving Optimax patients the opportunity of having one of the best treatment in the world.

Optimax leads with IntraLase®laser technology; with [^intralaseLasers] lasers we were the first company to offer this technology nationwide. The major benefit is that all suitable prescriptions can be treated with bladeless technology, eliminating potential complications and distortions associated with cutting the flap with a blade. In addition, more patients achieve 20:20 vision or better and fewer patients lose sharpness of vision. Safety is improved which gives increased confidence to both the doctor and patient, thereby reducing stress and anxiety.

Furthermore both mechanical breakdown and human error are also reduced.

IntraLase® Femtosecond and Wavefront Treatment (Combined)

Wavefront and IntraLase® Femtosecond combined treatment aims to improve the sharpness of vision over and above what can be achieved with glasses. Until now Wavefront has been limited in its ability to achieve the best possible outcome because of the imperfections made by the blade subsequent to the measurement of the eye. Because IntraLase® Femtosecond lasers do not induce these imperfections, Wavefront can now treat everything it measures resulting in the best possible treatment and probability of gaining sharpness of vision.